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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

I am pleased to welcome a delightful newcomer to the blog, Jason Lloyd. He's charmed me already by bringing a terrific giveaway and an excerpt. Enjoy...

Licking Strangers – A Look into Salty Aftertaste

My best friend Kevin has a habit of sticking his tongue where it doesn’t belong. Over the years, I have witnessed him accidentally licking things… mostly inanimate objects or just himself. Yes, it really is that long and yes, it gets in the way all the time! We always joke he is the love child of Gene Simmons.

In the scene below from my book Salty Aftertaste, you can clearly tell the type of trouble Kevin, and his tongue, can get into, especially after a few drinks. Also in this scene is the first night I met Jesús, an adorable Latin bouncer who worked at the bar we visited every night. I loved his accent! I have a thing for foreign men.

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Excerpt:

We were out on the patio getting ready to leave. Kevin was sticking out his tongue showing a crowd of boys his prized possession. He uses his tongue to break the ice, break hearts, and to break into tight holes. Okay, that last one I made up, Kevin actually confessed to me that he never actually licked an ass. Although he enjoyed having his salad tossed, he has not tossed anyone’s. This is highly unfortunate considering how long and pointy his tongue is. The rim job would be fantastic.

An extremely hot couple approached us while Kevin was sticking his tongue out. One had on a cowboy hat and tinted sunglasses, he oozed sex and the other one was taller and slightly more muscular with a nice beard. They said they owned a gay bar out in Atlantic City. They both were hot sexy bears.

Mr. Cowboy turned to me, “You're really cute.” Then took off his cowboy hat and sunglasses and placed them on me.
“Jason you look really hot with those on!” Lola said excitedly.

The Cowboy looked at Kevin and said, “Wow, that's some tongue.”

Kevin sticks it out even further than before. “Try to wrap it around my finger.”

It resembled a scene out of Animal Planet’s, “African Safari.” Kevin was the giraffe with its tongue extended trying to get the last bit of greenery off a high tree. I could not believe what I was looking at through the Cowboy's sunglasses. There Kevin was licking some stranger's finger!

He managed to wrap his pink tongue around the Cowboy's index finger, “It tastes like ashes!” Kevin murmured.

The Cowboy’s partner laughed and said, “If he can do that around your finger can you just imagine what he can do to your dick!”

While Kevin was licking strangers, Lola was chatting with the bouncer. His name was Jesús. He was the cute, short, but very muscular Latin bouncer from the night before. His accent was thick and so was everything else on him. Lola introduced us, and Jesús had remembered me from last night. I was shocked. He must see so many guys, but he remembered me.

“Aaa you is my favorite. I remembered you.” He smiled at me and I felt my heart flutter a bit in my chest. I thought he was hot, and I had to blush. My face felt warm, and I had to be a deep shade of crimson.

“So do people call you Jesus?” I asked.

“Yeahs friends call mes Jesus all da time.” His chestnut color eyes lit up as he spoke. His teeth were brilliantly white, and I could not help but stare at his mouth as he spoke.

“So yous and Lola from Pennsylvania?” Jesús looked at me and smiled.

“Yeah, how did you know that?”

“Yous handed me your driving license.” Jesús winked at me.

I had forgotten that he saw my I.D. when we came into the bar.
“Where are you from?” Lola asked.

“Originally from Mexico, but live here now.”

“I have never been down there,” I said.

“Yous should comes down. I like going down.” Jesús winked at me again. I am sure we were not talking about Mexico any longer.

The three of us chatted a little, some of his words were hard to understand, but it was definitely sexy. I could not help but picture him naked. His body was perfectly tan. He had just the slightest bit of chest hair protruding out of his blue polo collar. I imagined he looked amazing naked and probably had a nice uncut cock. I wanted to play peekaboo with his penis.

Lola is a fabulous wingman; she insisted Jesús, and I exchange numbers and that it would be fun for us all to hang out. Jesús gave me a hug goodbye. He lifted me up in the air and let the hug linger a bit. I held onto his biceps and closed my eyes. I wanted him to penetrate me now.

In this nonfiction tale, Jason and his hilarious and crude motley cast of friends leave their mundane suburban jungles and flock to the mecca that is Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for vacation. They are in search of a little rest and relaxation; aka beach, bars and boys, lots of hot boys.

Jason is just looking for a little attention. He just wants to feel wanted, and a little summer passion would not hurt either. Jason is the self-proclaimed hopeless romantic of the group. Will he find his summer love or is romance really scarce?

Kevin is the complete opposite of Jason. He feels that romance is only alive in stories. Kevin's love for a teenage drama goes too far, and his obsession turns into more than he expected. Did Kevin finally stumble upon some romance or does his fascination finally get the better of him?

Bobby is looking for a connection. Any kind of connection. He meets a new guy every night and shares his bed with him. What is really going on behind Bobby's bedroom door? Will he ever be able to fill this insatiable void for closeness?

Benjamin sneaks out every night. He disappears into the night and reemerges the next morning as if nothing had happened. He is quiet about his extracurricular activities. Where does Benjamin go? What is he doing?

In this beach oasis, where there is an endless sea of sexy men with perfect bodies, will Jason and his friends actually find love or just one night stands? One thing is for certain, it is an epic vacation that none of them will forget.

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Want to win an ebook copy of Salty Aftertaste? Use Rafflecopter below to enter. Five winners will be randomly selected.

Also authors, if you are in need of a publicist, I highly recommend Joleen from Parenthetical Author Services. She will do her very best to help you promote your work. You can contact her at PAS Promotions.

BioJason Lloyd is the author of hilarious m/m romance featuring an array of interesting characters. Salty Aftertaste (Ginge Publishing, 2013) was his first creative non-fiction novel. It reached Smashwords Top Best Seller list in Gay & Lesbian Fiction and was the #5 best seller in the New Adult genre on All Romance eBooks (ARe).

His second book, Queer Dirty Laundry (Ginge Publishing, 2014), is a creative non-fiction novella and is based on his popular blog by the same name. In 2011, QueerDirtyLaundry.com was nominated for The Best of Gay Philadelphia under Best Gay Website/Blog. Jason’s blog was also in the top ten numerous times on Best Male Blogs.

Jason is currently working on an m/m romance and mystery/suspense fictional novelette series called Filthy Fibbers. Filthy Fibbers is centered on five friends and the scandalous secrets they keep. The book takes place in a small Pennsylvania town called New Hope.

Jason grew up in a small town in Bucks County, Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. A majority of his writing takes place in Eastern Pennsylvania including Philadelphia. He currently resides in a small town in Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

I'm so thrilled to have Charlie Cochet back on the blog and to help her get the word out about her new Fallen Rose series. Please say hello and have fun entering a wonderful world full of dazzling scenes and characters. The roaring twenties is a titillating place to get lost in. Enjoy!

Hell all! Thank you for joining me as I celebrate the release of my roaring twenties historical romance A Rose by Any Other Name. We started the tour by chatting about the Pantheon where a good deal of our story takes place. The Pantheon is an Ancient Greek themed cabaret hidden inside the Parisian nightclub in Manhattan, New York City. It caters to wealthy gay men looking to quench their thirst for more than just booze. Part speakeasy, part club, part brothel, the Pantheon's Ancient Greek theme doesn't end with the decor.

All the young men who work at the Pantheon dress the part and go by names of Greek gods, deities, or personified concepts. This isn't just to fit in with the theme of the club, but to protect the identities of the young men who offer their services. For all of Aphrodite's faults, she genuinely cares about the young men under her care. Aphrodite is not only the hostess of the Pantheon, but a sort of mother figure. She's responsible for the well being of her cupids. She's also the one who discovered the club's leading act and most sought after young men, the Erotes: Eros, Himerus, and Pothos. Just who are the Erotes? Like with most Greek mythology, you'll find a few variations, but this is the one I went with. There's a fabulous website on gay Greek mythology here.

The Erotes were a group of winged gods who were retainers of Aphrodite. Each one represented a different aspect of love.

Eros - portrayed by Julius, represents lust, beauty, and love. It is also said Eros was regarded as the protector of homosexual love.

And of course, what's a roaring twenties romance without a dangerous gangster? Ares is Julius's most prestigious and mysterious client. He was given the name by Aphrodite and couldn't be more fitting for a man who believes himself to be above all others. In Greek mythology, Ares was the god of war, bloodshed, and violence, something our mortal Ares is all too familiar with, and often the cause of.

Nights in the roaring city remind bright young things that life’s too short to take for granted. Tucked away in Times Square hides the Pantheon: a secret cabaret for wealthy gay men. Pretty young men in elaborate costumes and rouged lips are eager to please, and the champagne flows all night long. It’s a world of frivolity, fantasy, and debauchery. As Eros, the most sought after performer at the Pantheon, Julius uses his beauty and charm on enthusiastic patrons, but growing weary of superficial love, he longs to make a better life for himself.

Five years after being declared mentally unfit after surviving the trenches of No Man’s Land, Edward Joseph Clarence Junior pieced his shattered life back together. Now he’s ready to take on the family empire. To celebrate his thirtieth birthday, Edward’s cousin takes him to the most posh nightclub in town, the Pantheon. Falling under the sway of Eros, Edward and Julius find a love they’ve never imagined and the chance for a future they had only dared to dream about. But as Ares, a notorious gangster and Julius’s most important—and dangerous— client watches them, the threat to their love and their lives grows by the day.

Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Book One, Roses in the Devil's Garden, was published in
Don't Read in the Closet by Charlie Cochet and is available for free download here.__________________________________________________________

Review:

Book 2 in Charlie Cochet's Fallen Rose series really surprised me. Let me stop right here to suggest you go download Book 1 (64 pages), which is FREE here, so that you'll get the full experience.

So yeah, this one surprised me. I was reading along, knowing that this was going to be a solid 3 star read when, bam! Right turn, right into 4 stars. This story became bigger, more involved and so much more intertwined in Charlie Cochet's interconnect universe. Oh, how I love when an author does that. If you're a fan of Charlie's or a newbie to her writing I think you'll be in for a surprise too, to find out all the tricks she's got up her sleeves.

THE CHARACTERS

He couldn't afford to be sidetracked, especially by some foolhardy dope.

Julius Knight (Eros) - Golden, gorgeous and living in a gilded cage. Oh, and did I mention he's a prostitute?

More than half a dozen pretty young men lavished their attentions on him, giving him more champagne, clawing at him, caressing him, kissing him. Edward jumped when a hand traveled up his inner thigh. Edward looked up to find Maxfield smiling at him.

"Happy Birthday, Edward, and welcome home."

Edward Joseph Clarence Junior - Tall, dark and handsome. Awkward, introverted, and still suffering from the effects of war. Oh, and did I mention he's rich?

A little rags to riches. A little good guy, bad guy. A little action and steamy sex. And a lot of romance and charm.

"Edward, this would probably be a good time for me to inform you of how dangerous it is for you to come between me and cake."

Hesitant Edward is dragged into the debauched Pantheon on his birthday for an evening of fun and frivolity, but is completed swept away by the beauty that is Eros. Their involvement is fraught with dangers and troubles that are both seen and unseen.

Without saying much I'll tell you that this is, at least, two romances in one. And for avid Charlie Cochet readers there are treats sprinkled throughout this book that will be a delight to discover.

THE WRITING

Cochet is the queen of historical fanciful fiction. She charms me away from reality and glides me into her creative worlds where I'm immersed in another era.

This may be a little too good to be true, it swoops and it soars, but it was fun, romantic and it even held a few surprises in a book that I thought wouldn't surprise me at all. I enjoyed the second half more as it introduced a good bit of action and brought in well liked characters from outside of this story, creating a wider, universal feel.

The doors are open to future romances to develop in the series, and I already have my eyes on the couple I want to follow next.

Recommended for historical gay romance lovers.

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I would like to thank Charlie Cochet for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review. ~ ~ ~ Visit Lisa T at Goodreads

I read this as a buddy read and, now, two days after finishing it I'm still talking it through. Very contemplative.

Review:

This book affected me. It wasn't an easy-to-take read despite its flow and, at times, lyrical nature. The characters are deeply flawed with unquestionably deplorable morals even if one might be able to justify their actions, or not. Who among us hasn't wished harm on someone who has wronged us? Chalk it up to-- too close to reality, too recognizable and entirely too gripping, but this book will remain in my mind and soul.

I warn you there are triggers here, so check the tags before delving in.

THE CHARACTERS

Petty Officer Second Class Skylar Thompson - Masculine to a fault, lithe, artistic, beautiful and compassionate. AND, angry, bitter, stubborn and conflicted. His actions may infuriate you and they may break you, but either way it is fascinating to see if he can pull his life together.

Skylar felt his balls being crushed between two boulders called Salvation and Disaster.

Ezra Dunphy - His loneliness and crushingly desperate search for attention nearly had me setting this book aside. But glimpses of his true nature, strength and genius kept me welded to this story.

Diamond knew that all the evils of the world arose from people wishing to be to be something other than what they are, and that desire gave birth to despair, covetousness, and sickness.

The Secondary Characters -

Rosa- Conniving, selfish and completely unworthy of her husbands affection. Kudos to the author for not smoothing out her edges. I rarely hate a character to this degree.Miguel and Holly- True love lies here. These beautiful, wise and committed lovers were the glue that others needed to model their lives after. Lovely.

THE STORY This bittersweet and mature story begins with Skylar returning home from an eighteen month deployment at sea. He's eager to reunite with his family, but this artistic man struggles to provide for them. He takes a second job that allows his creativity to bloom, but his navy job changes to allow his new daytime job and the two careers couldn't clash more.Ezra finds himself alone and traveling a familiarpath in order to find companionship, but will he ever find compassion?It turns out that this is a story about two men who are just looking for acceptance and understanding; elemental necessities that can be so very hard to achieve.THE WRITING

This is probably where I'm most conflicted with this book. Mr. Chin can certainly weave a story. He surprised me, was tough and unforgiving. He fully developed his characters

“ The Blurb:

Straight, married Petty Officer Second Class Skyler Thompson battles homophobia from his navy buddies, the military, and his wife when he takes a job creating flower arrangements at a gay-owned florist. But rather than yield to pressure and quit, he refuses to give up the joy of creating beautiful arrangements, battling homophobia for artistic expression. His dream is to leave the navy and open his own florist shop.

Ezra Dumphy—his shipmates call him Dumpy because of his obesity—is a gay sailor who likes to dress in drag. He is shunned by his shipmates, tragically lonely, and uses drugs to cope with his solitude. What he wants more than anything is someone to share his life with.

Can these two men, opposites in every way, help each other achieve their dreams?

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to the point of being unforgettable and caused me emotional duress. The pacing was spot on, because if it had slowed anywhere I would have become too caught up in considering the immoral nature of these characters to continue.

The conflict comes with his choice to allow nearly all of his characters to be deplorable. That made it difficult to cling on, to root for and to endure this read. That being said, I'm confident in calling this a four-star read. I believe the author achieved his goals, wanting to tell a tale of coarse immorality while shining a spotlight on the intimate beauty of friendship.Would I recommend this book? Yes. Just go into it knowing that this author doesn't pull his punches. He's going to make you uncomfortable, but he definitely puts you in the story and gives you plenty to consider.